AN: I must admit it's been a lot of fun writing Season 1 Buffy before the onslaught of adulthood. Of course, that'll all change once things get intense but it's fun while it lasts. A huge thank you to my beta Kasumi for her hard work and making this thing sound just a bit better.

A few days had passed since the night at the Bronze, and it was safe to say that Buffy's reputation had taken a hit. Cordelia and the popular girls that had seemed so eager to befriend her were now snickering in her presence, and for some reason even teachers seemed to be giving her odd looks. As for Willow and Xander, Buffy was doing everything in her power to avoid them. The guilt from Jesse's death was still at the forefront of her mind and she was sure that they blamed her. How could they not? She didn't know how she could possibly face them after everything that had happened.

Walking into the library, hair in a ponytail and backpack on her shoulders, she saw Spike sitting books down on one of the large study tables.

"Ohhh… old dusty books. Count me in!"

Spike looked up at her, a bit out of breath from hauling in so many old heavy tomes from his father's collection.

"Really?" He asked hoping for a little extra help digging through the books.

"Yeah that was sarcasm, Spike." Buffy tossed her bag down and sighed, leaning against the checkout desk.

"When did you want to get down and dirty?"

Spike couldn't help but smirk at her words, causing a flush of red to wash over her face.

"Don't make that gross. You know I meant sparring."

"I know that's what you meant."

"So. When. Where. How. You claim to be trained but I know I can take you down."

"I'm sure you will." Spike said, walking past her to carry a few extra volumes from his office to the table. "You do have supernatural strength after all. But I need to test your reflexes and form. Watching is fine, but you get to know someone better fighting."

"Tell me about it." Buffy mumbled walking over and opening one of the books. "Order of Aurelius. Nice."

"Tonight? About 7 pm? Should give you time to get homework done, plenty of time to clean up and rest for school afterwards. You still have the address?"

"Yes, Dad." Buffy mocked and Spike grimaced.

"Don't call me dad."

"Do you prefer daddy?" She teased.

The two heard a throat clear and both heads turned to see Principal Snyder. Before either managed to say anything, the bell rang, and Buffy took the opportunity to leave.

"That's my cue. Thanks for the textbooks, Mr. Giles." Buffy said rushing past the principal and out the library doors.

Principal Snyder's eyebrows raised as he looked over Spike as if the new librarian was beneath him in some way.

"Getting rather friendly with the new Summers girl, aren't we?" The man asked, walking over and looking at all the books the young man had brought in.

"Well, we're both new here, don't really know anyone. Easy to get friendly." Spike explained as he continued to arrange his books.

"Are these your father's? The famous Rupert Giles."

"They are. He's loaning them to me for the time being so I can see what could be of use for the students and faculty."

Principal Snyder didn't respond; instead stepping closer to the younger man.

"I want to make something very clear, Mr. Giles. We hired you because of your father's reputation. Because I believe you will carry on his legacy and work. Not because of your resume or background check…"

Spike stiffened. "I was a kid…"

"Like I said…" Principal Snyder interrupted. "You've barely been here for week and rumors are already getting around the school. I know just as well as anyone rumors are often false, spurred on by bored teenagers with raging hormones prone to dramatics. But I want you to be aware than there are expectations for you, Mr. Giles."

"I am aware."

"Good. And if anything happens to these books, the school is not insured."

At 7 pm sharp, Buffy found herself in her workout clothes standing in a strange building that she never would have expected anyone to live in, much less her Watcher. The building was one on Main Street, she was pretty sure had to have been an old factory that had been turned into apartments. Nothing in Sunnydale was industrial, per se, but this place seemed to stick out like a sore thumb. Hoping she was in front of the right door, Buffy knocked and waited anxiously. It wasn't long before the door swung open and Spike stood in front of her. He looked different out of school. No blazer. Instead, his hair was slicked back, and he was wearing a black t-shirt with fitted sweatpants. His outfit served to really emphasize the age difference between her old Watcher and the new.

"This building is weird." Buffy walked past him and into the apartment. It was big but under-renovated. One corner held a bed and television. Another corner was stacked to the ceiling with old books. There was a small kitchenette and beyond that was an area that was full of training gear. This place, oddly enough, reminded her of her old watcher's apartment. It was clear they had a style.

"Wow… this is oddly exactly what I expected."

"Food. Sleep. Books. Fight. What more does anyone need?" Spike seemed sincere, and in that moment, it really hit Buffy that Spike wasn't lying when he said he grew up preparing for this. It was clear that he believed this setup was exactly all that a person needed.

"Well let's get to it." Buffy walked over to the training area, setting her bag of weapons down on the floor. "So, what are we doing? Boxing? Kicking? Tum…" Before Buffy could finish her next word, someone hit her hard, and within seconds Spike had her pinned down to the ground.

"On alert. Always."

"That is not fair!" Buffy groaned before head-butting Spike sending him tumbling off of her. "I didn't know we started." She leaped on top of him, knees on the floor around his hips, his wrists held hard against the ground.

"Get used to it." He grunted, shifting his hips up to leverage her position against her, causing Buffy to lunge forward over his head. He raised to his feet. Buffy soon followed. Her eyes were now on him, she knew he was playing dirty and she couldn't let herself be surprised twice.

"See that." he said, preparing to pounce. "How focused you are? Watching every move, everything breath, every weapon in the room? This state is your best friend. This is where you have to be at all times when patrolling or fighting." Spike tried to land a kick and Buffy was quick to avoid it. She then advanced throwing a punch, landing one against his face.

"Ooph. No Slayer strength." he rubbed the side of his face.

"I didn't know there were rules all of a sudden."

"That's the one rule." He lunged, grabbing her shoulders and pushing her down to the mat, but before landing, she managed to bring a knee up, and flipped him to his back.

"I'll break you." She warned.

"Doubt it." Spike grabbed a stake from her bag and threw it at her face, but she caught it easily, rushing to him and pushing him up against the wall, pressing the stake to his heart.

"I win." She declared. Spike nodded.

"You win."

Buffy let out a breath and relaxed only for Spike to bring up his hand revealing the axe he had grabbed.

"Never assume you've won."

The two went on like this for about 2 hours before calling it quits, both breathing heavily and taking a water break.

"Same time next week?" Spike asked, sweaty and exhausted from the work out.

"You got it." Buffy grabbed her bag and headed to the door. "And you should shower. You totally smell."

Buffy had done it, an entire week of avoiding Willow and Xander. Now if she could just do this until she graduated, she'd be in the clear. Class didn't start for another hour and she promised Spike she'd stop by so he could update her on information he had found regarding the harvest and The Master that the female vampire had spoken of. When she walked through the doors, she froze seeing a familiar pair sitting down at the table. Before she could back up Willow smiled.

"Buffy! We've been trying to track you down all week."

"Yeah, Buff, can't help but think you've been avoiding us." Xander said with a bit of knowing in his voice.

Spike eyed the three teenagers, knowing full well Buffy's guilt over the situation.

"I…" She began. "Wasn't."

"Convincing." Xander said smiling. "You know we don't blame you for Jesse, right? He was our friend and we're still upset over what happened but if it weren't for you, Willow would have been there with him and then I'd have no one."

Buffy relaxed a bit at Xander's heartfelt statement. "It's just hard."

"We can help." Willow smiled eagerly. "I mean, all of these ancient books, who wouldn't want to research with them?" She asked naively as she flipped another page.

Buffy felt the parasite of guilt that had been eating at her seem to dissipate and she let out a breath she was sure she had been holding in for a week at that point.

"Before school, lunch, after school… I mean we have nothing better to do if we're being honest." Xander shrugged. "Who said being losers was a bad thing?"

"Have we figured anything out yet?" Buffy asked as she finally walked over to join them at the table.

Spike spoke up. "Well the blonde vampire spoke of The Master. I wasn't able to find anything about this 'Master' in any of the books, but I had my father look through old Watcher Council archives and 'The Master', as he is called, is very powerful. Before he was turned his name was Heinrich Joseph Nest and is said to be older than any other vampire found on record. He has sired some of the most notorious vampires known to humanity. He also may be the leader, but we're still verifying, of the vampire cult Order of Aurelius. Which, luckily enough, I do have a book about." Spike said with a twinge of excitement in his voice and Buffy couldn't help but smile. "So, there is more to figure out, but I'll be spending the rest of my day researching this cult."

"Well it looks like you've got it under control." Buffy said confidently as she sat down and pulled out her binder from English class. "So, I'm going to finish up this homework."

"Buffy Anne Summers!" Buffy heard as she walked through the front door after school. Ok, whatever it was, she was in trouble for sure.

"Yes, mom?"

"Come downstairs." Joyce demanded and soon Buffy was in the basement looking at a very upset and disappointed Joyce, laundry in hand.

"Can you please tell me what this is?" Joyce pushed a white top into Buffy's hands. It was the top she wore when she went patrolling with Spike a few nights ago. A vampire had shoved her to the ground, and she had snagged her shoulder on a rock. Blood marked the white shirt.

"Umm…" Buffy tried to think of something that would make sense.

"Don't lie to me." Joyce saw the lie coming, she had been through this before when they lived in L.A. Joyce knew that blood equaled fights.

"It's blood." She admitted. "My new friend Willow and I were jogging in the park and I tripped. I didn't think it was a big deal."

"If that is true then why were you about to lie to me?"

Buffy was silent.

"Go to your room, get your homework done. Dinner is in the fridge. I'm going to bed early."

Buffy didn't know what to say so she just turned around and went up to her bedroom. She knew her mother was stressed out. Buffy was too. What was she going to say? A vampire did it?

Unsure of what to think or how to wrap her head around these feelings of being unseen and unheard by her mother. Buffy did her homework and ate dinner. Once the sun set, she changed into appropriate clothes to patrol in and she snuck out her bedroom window. She had to get out some frustration on some unsuspecting vampires.

Once in the cemetery, Buffy sat on a tombstone and waited patiently.

"Hereee vampy vampy vampy…" She mumbled to herself. Sunnydale was beyond infested with the undead and she could usually count on at least one a night. After a few hours passed it didn't seem like Buffy would be getting any action. She went over to her weapon bag and grabbed an axe. Walking over to one of the trees she threw it, sticking it perfectly in the bark before walking up, grabbing it, and repeating. It was her 5th hit when she heard a voice behind her. "Good throw." Buffy spun around to see Angel.

"Wow, you really like to sneak up on a girl." Buffy said, walking over to the tree and grabbing her axe.

"Consider it one of my skills."

"Clearly." She walked over, tossing her axe into her bag.

"So, let me guess. More cryptic news?" She raised an eyebrow as the quiet, tall, dark man stood in front of her. What was it about the quiet type?

"I do. I just found out from an acquaintance of mine that The Master isn't new to Sunnydale like many were suspecting, but he's been here, buried under the earth for a few decades now."

"Ok, so why is he down below and not up here with the rest of us?"

"In the '30s, the Master came to Sunnydale in hopes of opening the Hellmouth and bringing about the end of the world…"

"Why didn't he succeed then?" Buffy asked the man who seemed to have all the answers.

"He tried. he found a church to conduct his ritual but about halfway through an earthquake hit; engulfing half the town, including the church, and The Master."

"What was the ritual for? Simply ending the world? If it were that easy wouldn't it have been done by now?"

Angel shrugged. "I'm not sure."

"So, he has just been down there waiting to finish his ritual?"

"Since he was already mid-ritual it created this mystical barrier. Now all he has to do is to break through."

"We have to stop him."

"Not we, princess, you."

"Of course."

"Where are you getting all of this info…." Before Buffy could finish a vampire sprang from a bush and tackled her to the ground, another one came soon after targeting Angel. Buffy managed to get a few good punches in to slow the vampire down before plunging a stake into the thing's heart. Once the dust settled, she looked to see Angel struggling with the vampire on him. She went quickly to his aid, staking the vampire leaving Angel laying on the ground.

"Friends of yours?" She asked him as she reached down and helped him up.

"Hardly." He said grunting a bit, and that was when Buffy noticed his ripped shirt and bloodied skin.

"Hazard of the job." She said casually. Buffy walked over to her bag and pulled out a small first aid kit.

"Shirt off."

"Buffy, I…."

"I said shirt off. We have to clean it or it'll get infected. And you don't have super handy dandy Slayer healing like I do. So, we got to patch it up."

Angel took his shirt off and when she turned around and saw his naked torso, she nodded to herself. Yep. Tall dark stranger who barely speaks and when he does; speaks in cryptic messages? Every 16-year-old girl's dream boat.

Buffy ripped open a cleansing pad and brought it up to the small cut on his shoulder. He winced and Buffy smirked. "Big baby." A bandage was placed over the freshly cleaned cut, and her fingers lingered on his shoulder for a moment. Her eyes looked up and met his, and his head tilted down, and their lips met. Buffy kissed him back gently, her teen heart bursting open with butterflies filling her body. She pulled back and took a deep breath. With the two completely and utterly distracted, they didn't notice a third vampire sneak up on them. Buffy noticed it first, and eyes widening, she pulled back to find her stake, but before she could find it Angel and the vampire began fighting. She couldn't find it in her bag, where the hell had she left it? Scanning the ground, she spotted it near a tombstone and lunged for it quickly. Just as she stood prepared to help, the scene in front of her caused a scream to escape. Angel, or to be more accurate, vampire Angel snapped the neck of the other vampire.

"Buffy…" Angel shook his head, letting his game face disappear. "It's ok."

"You're a vampire!" She exclaimed, ready to fight if need be.

"I know, but I have a soul. I don't kill people. I'm here to help." He explained. "I'm not a threat, Buffy, I promise."

She didn't let her guard down. Always on alert.

"You kissed me." She accused. "You're a vampire and you kissed me. That is totally warped."

"I like you, Buffy."

Buffy didn't know what to do. He was standing here, human face on, looking at her completely innocently. She could just kill him, stake first and ask questions later had always been her policy. Then she remembered the butterflies that had been in her stomach. She was too young to make decisions like this.

She shook her head. "I have to go." Buffy began to gather her things, shoving weapons into her bag and keeping her senses on the vampire near her in case he decided to strike. "This was fun and all," sarcasm dripped from her voice. "But this..." she referenced between them. "Isn't the type of thing I fantasize about at night." And with that she quickly walked away.

Buffy tossed and turned all night thinking about the encounter with Angel. He had kissed her, and she had liked it. That was enough to keep her mind moving. The double whammy of him being a vampire was one she just couldn't shake. Vampires were evil, they were meant to be staked, they weren't meant to be kissed. The brooding vampire made her heart flutter and she felt like scribbling his name on her binder. He had mentioned a soul. Was that even possible? She knew vampires didn't have souls, it was Slayer 101. How did this one? The thought of asking Spike seemed like a bad one, he wouldn't approve. However, if anyone would know it would be him.

The next morning Buffy walked into the school library and what she saw before her made her smile. Spike was there, in his clothes from the day before, he had clearly fallen asleep while reading a book. Walking over to his side, Buffy bent down and she pushed some of his hair from his face. He really was a handsome man. If he hasn't been bred for watcher-hood she could totally see him playing in a Billy Idol cover band or making girls swoon as a bartender. Buffy let her thumb brush over the scar on his eyebrow as she studied it. One day she would find out about that scar and his nickname. How was it that she had known this person only a couple of weeks and she would trust him with her life?

"Spike." Buffy said softly and the Watcher's eyes fluttered open and she smiled. "You fell asleep."

Spike propped his head up and seeing Buffy's face made his heart swell in a way that, at the time, he took as affection for his charge.

After a long yawn, he straightened and looked down at the book he had been sleeping on.

"So I found out some information about…" He began, the tiredness obvious in his voice.

"You just woke up." Buffy interrupted him. "Turn that big brain off for a moment. I can go get you a cup of coffee. I have about an hour until class starts."

"Could you?" Spike reached into his pocket and fished out a $10 bill.

"Ohhh rich man. Does this mean your Slayer that works oh so hard can get a latte?"

"Yes. I can safely say you've worked hard this week and have earned a latte."

"Nice!" Buffy said rushing off through the library doors.

Spike took a moment to collect himself and straighten himself up. After a splash of water on his face from the faculty bathroom, he was back in the library organizing his work. It only took Buffy about 20 minutes to return.

"That was quick for coffee rush-hour." He said as he took the cup of black coffee from her.

"If you think I don't know the fastest way yet to get to coffee from this library you're nuts."

"I found out some information about the Order of Aurelius. The cult worships The Old Ones, gods that predate Christianity and are said to bring about the end of the world. It turns out, according to the Watcher's archives, it is now verified that The Master is the leader of the cult."

"That explains the ritual." Buffy said off-handedly.

Spike looked at her oddly. "What?"

"Oh! You don't know. Ok. So I ran into tall, dark, and dreamboat-y last night." Spike cocked an eyebrow, and Buffy continued. "And he told me all of this information about The Master." Buffy then went on and explained to Spike the information she had learned.

"So we can easily conclude that The Master is raising the gods of his cult using the power of the Hellmouth in order to end the world." Spike summarized. "And after all these years the barrier holding him back is almost weak enough for him to escape. All we have to do now is figure out how he plans to do that. The Council is working on finishing translating that prophecy, it'll probably give us more information."

"Look at us! Just as good as The Scooby Gang. I'd so be Daphne." Buffy bemused as she took a drink of her latte.

"How old is that guy?" Spike asked trying his best to sound nonchalant.

"What guy?"

"The one being so kind to share with us that information."

Buffy shrugged looking down into her coffee. "I didn't exactly as him for identification while slaying vampires, but I'd guess maybe about 25 or like… 300?" Spike paused.

"Excuse me?"

"So, it turns out… plot-twist. Informant is a vampire… and not only is he a vampire but he's a vampire with a soul." Buffy was quiet as the wheels in her head turned. "Like how does that even make sense? A vampire with a soul? That's so… does that even happen?" Her question then became pointed. "I mean… does that happen?" Her question was a hopeful one.

"I don't know about a vampire with a soul. But in reality, anyone who knows you're the Slayer is a possible threat, vampire or not, and it's my job to keep an eye on whose sniffing around you and your secret. I'll research this helpful vampire with a soul but until we have answers you need to stay away from him."

Buffy rolled her eyes, "Whatever, Dad."

"Don't call me dad."

Buffy heard the bell ring and smiled. "See you after school! I promised Willow and Xander a non-monster lunch."

"I'm a monster now?" Spike teased.

"Yes. But you'll always be my monster."

Getting through her first few classes, Buffy was excited when lunch finally came around. She was sick of talking vampires and demons, having normal friends felt like such a treat. She found Willow sitting underneath a tree with her lunch laid out in front of her and Buffy sat down joining her.

"Ohh whatcha got?" She asked as she pulled her backpack around to pull out her Coke and chicken wrap.

"My mom made me a tuna sandwich. What about you?"

"Caesar chicken wrap."

"Fancy."

"Things have been tense with me and my mom since the move. I think it's a peace offering."

Willow smiled sympathetically. "How was patrolling last night? Any big baddies?"

"You could call him that."

"Him?" Willow raised her eyebrows eagerly. "Ohhhh, tell me more."

"Who's him?" They heard Xander's voice before seeing him and soon he was joining.

"Buffy met a him."

"Buff-ster has a crush?"

"You could call it that." She said popping open her can of Coke. "We even kissed."

"Ohh la la. And who is this gentleman going after our little Buffy's heart if we may ask?"

"His name is Angel."

"Dreamy." Willow chimed in.

"And he may be a vampire."

Silence.

"May be a vampire?" Willow finally asked after a beat.

"That doesn't seem like a good idea." Xander said, his voice becoming serious.

"I know… but I also know no boy has looked at me with interest in a while and he's helpful, and a good fighter, and he has that silent type thing down. Besides he's a good vampire… I think… maybe."

"Is there even such a thing?" Willow asked with genuine curiosity in her voice.

"I mean… I think so."

"Finding out for sure seems important." Xander said with a sigh.

"I know… Spike is looking into it. I'm just enjoying how I feel for a moment. You know? Even if it's just a little crush in my head that dies tomorrow. Can you guys just be supportive? My mom and I…"

"We're here for you, Buffy. You don't have to explain." Xander said.

"Yeah. And if he's a bad vampire we'll just kill him!" Willow acted as if it was the easiest thing in the world.

"Simple." Buffy laughed.

When the final bell rang out, Buffy headed to the library to work on some homework before she and Spike went out to patrol. She also secretly hoped he had found some super secret Slayer loophole that said she could go on a date with a vampire with a soul. Old Watcher Council members research that sort of thing… right? After killing those vampires last night she was ready to stake a few more. It was odd how good it felt dusting newly turned vampires, it felt like playing Whack a' Mole.

Bursting through the library doors without much thought she yelled out. "Alright, Spike. Let's get rocking and rolling so we can kil..." She froze when she saw her Computer Science teacher Ms. Calendar standing next to Spike looking over a book.

"I… oh… is this not the gym? I must have gotten turned around… where even am I?" She tried to save the awkwardness. She noticed how close they were standing to each other.

"Buffy, it's ok. Ms. Calendar came in to find a book to help with a personal project. Jenny, this is Buffy, she's one of the students I tutor."

Jenny. Buffy noted. A childish, petty part of Buffy wanted to tell this woman that Spike was her watcher and she had to find her own. She had to remind herself that Spike was a person and he could have friends too.

"She calls you Spike?" Jenny asked, looking at him oddly.

Before he could answer Buffy chimed in. "I have no boundaries. It's a problem. My mom has me in therapy."

"Ok." Jenny sounded unconvinced. "Thank you for the book." She gave Spike a flirty smile before handing him the small piece of a paper. "Give me a call and we'll find a time for that art exhibit." Jenny begin to walk away. "It was nice to see you, Buffy. I'll see you tomorrow in class."

"Bye, Ms. Calendar." The moment the doors closed Buffy's jaw dropped.

"Oh my god, you're gonna get it."

"Buffy, that's inappropriate. I'm your Watcher and your Librarian we're not talking about how 'I'm going to get it.'"

"So you know you're going to get it."

"Buffy."

"What? We can roll around the floor together, sweaty for hours, but we can't talk about your love life? I feel I've earned the right to know if you're getting it." She said making herself comfortable at the study table.

"Fine, I'll call you immediately afterwards."

"You're so gross, Spike."